Anyone here running a 99-03 vw tdi? Time for a change in my wifes car and we usually get the german oil which is a 5w40 full synthetic, but I did notice at the local parts shop that the rotella is quite a bit cheaper and its deisel rated. My only concern is that when you read the back label it doesnt have the VW 505 api rating, from what I've been reading from this forum is that it's pretty good stuff, the 0 weight is appealling to me considering the cold weather up here in Canada so it would be nice if someone can give me more info on it.
xtrford, here is your problem, your VW engine has known issues with being a sludge monster. Not just any oil is going to work. The Rotella T Synthetic I would consider as marginal for your engine. You may not have any problems at all with it but if it were my VW, I would be looking for Castrol Syntec in the GREEN bottle in 0w-30 only. This is not the usual Syntec so be careful as there is a black bottle which is more common and won't work. You are going to have to find a PAO basestocked oil that is at minimum diesel rated at CF. Mobil One in 10w-40 should be fine. Kendall Synthetic should be fine as well as Chevron or Havoline Synthetic. And if it just comes down to it, use Amsoil HDD oil or Mobil SUV oil. Those are are not the cheapest but is within the criteria for your engine.
Please allow me to correct a few errors in your post. Your statements are in quotes.
"xtrford, here is your problem, your VW engine has known issues with being a sludge monster."
It is the 1.8L Turbo gas engine in the Passats & Audi A4's that is the sludge monster, not the 1.9L TDI.
"I would be looking for Castrol Syntec in the GREEN bottle in 0w-30 only. This is not the usual Syntec so be careful as there is a black bottle which is more common and won't work."
Castrol Syntec 0w30 aka "German Castrol" aka "GC" is NOT, nor has it ever been in a green bottle. The bottles look exactly like all other Syntec bottles. It's the OIL that used to be green, from 2002-2005. Early in 2005, Castrol tweaked the formula, & now the oil is the same color as any other motor oil.
"Mobil One in 10w-40 should be fine."
The only Mobil One in 10w40 is their Extended performance oil. The 10w40 viscosity is almost impossible to find. Did you mean Mobil One 0w40?
Thanx guys for your response, yes it is a tdi and the castrol syntec 5w40 is the other alternative for this motor but at a higher cost compared to the Volle-synthe german oil i usually get and the api is 505.01(thanx for correction wavinwayne). Looks like I'm stuck with expensive oil changes for the next little while, I was hoping the Rotella was going to adequate and it would have saved me a few pennies but oh well.
BTW ford390gashog, the Rotella was a 0w40 full synthetic and it came in a black 4litre jug with a light blue plastic wrap around it.
To answer your question wavinwayne it is a pump-duse tdi and does require the 505.01, sorry about the confusion, I can understand why when I looked at my last post.
ford390gashog, cant quite remember the specs on the back label but there was something about allisons and there was a CL rating but dont know what the exact number was, but I know for sure there wasnt anything related to the VW 505.01 spec. I'll let you know when I pay another visit to the store about its specific ratings.
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